Written by Annabelle Aree Lee
Edited by Leah Gilbert
In the current high fashion scene, there is one brand that unignorably has taken the industry by storm in recent years. The Row, a luxury fashion brand founded in 2006 by iconic twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, marks the duo’s transition from the acting world to the world of high fashion. Initially gaining fame as child actors sharing the role of Michelle Tanner on the popular sitcom Full House, the sisters shifted their focus to fashion in the 2000s with the launch of The Row. The brand is known for its “quiet luxury” philosophy, offering meticulously crafted, minimalist designs that prioritize subtle elegance over flashy displays of wealth. Despite the understated aesthetic, the brand’s offerings are undeniably high-end, with cashmere T-shirts priced at $1,400, leather jackets at $8,000, and leather handbags nearing $10,000. The Row has just four physical stores, located in fashion capitals of the world such as London, New York, Los Angeles, and Amagansett in the Hamptons, a celebrity-favored vacation town where people to the likes of Paul McCartney, Lou Reed, and Gwyneth Paltrow have owned vacation homes.
Recent investments in the company have brought in a wealth of expertise and resources to cultivate the continued growth of The Row, which is currently valued at $1 billion. Investors Alain and Gérard Wertheimer are owners of numerous luxury brands including Chanel, and additional investor Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is the granddaughter of L’Oréal founder Eugène Schueller. It was recently announced that each of these moguls in the fashion industry has acquired minority stakes in luxury brand The Row through their respective family offices, Mousse Partners and Tethys Invest. Joining them in this investment are Imaginary Ventures, a venture capital firm co-founded by fashion entrepreneur Natalie Massenet and Nick Brown. Additionally, St. Dominique Capital, a private investment fund belonging to Lauren Santo Domingo, co-founder and brand director of Moda Operandi has made investments as well.
The Row has firmly established itself as a dominant force in the luxury fashion industry, resonating with elite clients and strategic investors alike. With financial backing from industry moguls such as the Wertheimer brothers, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, and fashion entrepreneurs like Natalie Massenet, The Row is positioned for continued success in high fashion.
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